Movers & Shakers: Front Porch’s New Board Members

Front Porch Elects 3 New Members to Board of Directors

Front Porch, a Glendale, California-based not-for-profit senior services provider with 10 full-service retirement communities, elected three new members to its board of directors. Joining the board on Jan. 1 are Deborah A. Proctor, Oliver W. Wesson Jr. and Marion McGovern.

Proctor recently retired as the president and CEO of Irvine, California-based St. Joseph Health, which is a not-for-profit health system with 16 hospitals, physician organizations, home health agencies, hospice care and more. Her career has included direct patient care and health care education, as well as administration.

Wesson Jr. is currently senior vice president in Bank of America’s health care and institution group, a position he has held for 10 years. He is responsible for managing the relationship of several multi-billion dollar health care clients. His experience includes more than 20 years at J.P. Morgan Community Development Corporation.

McGovern co-founded M Squared Consulting, a niche consulting firm that matched independent consultants to client needs before it was sold to a South African conglomerate. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco’s School of Management, and currently works as a director for CPP Inc.

“Front Porch welcomes Deborah, Oliver and Marion to the board,” Jennifer Perry, chairperson of the board of directors, said in a news release. “Their experience and expertise in strategic business management, global health and community development will strengthen Front Porch’s position as an innovative leader in senior service.”

Sonata Senior Living Names New COO

Sonata Senior Living named Shelley Esden as COO, effective immediately.

In her new role, Shelley will oversee the company’s operational and care initiatives and employee development. She will also work to advance innovative strategies. She has more than 18 years of leadership experience in the senior housing industry, working with nationally recognized owners, developers and operators.

“As a founding member of Sonata Senior Living, Shelley’s comprehensive knowledge of the senior housing landscape and her impactful team-focused leadership style has been the driving force between our growth and success,” Sonata President and CEO Stuart J. Beebe said in a news release.

Based in Orlando, Florida, Sonata Senior Living is an owner, developer and operator that has been instrumental in more than 20 Central Florida seniors housing communities.

Arbor Realty Trust Appoints Regional Managing Director for Seniors Housing Finance Business

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR), a Uniondale, New York-based real estate investment trust (REIT) and national direct lender specializing in loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, health care and more, appointed Brian Jones as regional managing director in its Cleveland, Ohio office.

Jones will be responsible for originating Arbor seniors housing and health care loans using the firm’s Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and Bridge financing products. He has more than 20 years of experience in the seniors housing, health care and affordable housing sectors, and has expertise in structuring acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction transactions with bridge loan, agency loan and equity executions.

Before joining Arbor, Jones was a vice president with a national lender, and early in his career, he held a senior level position with an affordable housing developer.

“Leveraging Brian’s long-standing experience in the sector, our clients will benefit even further from our expertise and nationwide capabilities,” Arbor COO John Caulfield said in a news release.

Allegro Senior Living Welcomes New Executive Director at Florida Community

Seniors housing manager Allegro Senior Living welcomed Veronica Rogers as executive director of its community located in Boynton Beach, Florida.

As executive director, Rogers oversees the community’s sales, capital and operations. She is focused on maintaining employee engagement and resident satisfaction. Prior to joining Allegro, Rogers was executive director at Freedom Village, a 750-unit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) owned and operated by Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) in Bradenton, Florida. She also worked as director of global communications for a technology solutions provider and started her own marketing agency.

Allegro Senior Living operates 11 communities in Florida and Kentucky, and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Age Wave Announces Appointment of President

Age Wave, a company that explores the business, economic, social and personal impacts of the longevity revolution and advises business, governments and nonprofits across the globe on the opportunities and challenges of an aging population, announced the appointment of Elyse Pellman as president.

Pellman has more than 35 years of experience in senior management, consumer and business-to-business strategy and marketing. She began working with Age Wave more than 20 years ago, holding various positions within the organization, most recently as COO.

“Elyse embodies everything we try to be at Age Wave,” CEO Ken Dychtwald, PhD, said in a news release. “With her caring, kind, hopeful and high integrity nature, we are incredibly fortunate to have her at the helm as we navigate and map the future on behalf of our clients and the world at large.”

Written by Kourtney Liepelt